this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2025

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148

Looking to change to a Linux-based OS on a laptop, but I don't really understand coding so I haven't tried any of them. Is LinuxMint a good place to start? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago by Penny7@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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So like it says in the title. I'm looking to make a change. The only coding I ever did was like, some very light HTML on stuff like LiveJournal 20 years ago (because I'm ancient in internet years, haha) and even that I barely remember.

I've seen people talk about LinuxMint in other comment sections and how that one might be closest to something like Windows (in that a layman like myself can use it out of the box like buying a new laptop from Best Buy or whatever store). Is that actually a good one or is there something better for somebody like me?

I've seen enough people go 'NO UBUNTU!!!!' to steer me away from that one, but otherwise I have no clue what would actually be good for somebody in my shoes.

I have a laptop that still technically runs Windows 8 that I just use for downloads so I'd be trying it on there so that if something goes wonky I'm not fucked. After looking at the LinuxMint website, the specs on that laptop meet the requirements for it.

Thanks so much!

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[–] Tuuktuuk@sopuli.xyz 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Regarding the lots of help online:

Linux Mint is made so that they take the most recent Ubuntu, make certain alterations to it and then ship it as Linux Mint.

Because of this, over 95 % of advice for Ubuntu works on Linux Mint out of the box. But of course, sometimesthe few changes Linux Mint has done causes the advice to not work. So, first look for

Computer physically explodes killing me when I launch Solitaire Linux mint

But, sometimes that doesn't work and you find no solutions. Then try

Computer physically explodes killing me when I launch Solitaire Ubuntu

...and you almost surely find a solution that solves the problem.

Just remember, it is impolite to go ask for help on Ubuntu forums if you're using some other distribution, such as Mint. But, sometimes it could be the only good option. In those cases begin with something akin to "I am running Linux Mint which is based on Ubuntu and nobody on the Mint forums was able to help, so I'm trying my luck here."